Turbulence-modifying stirrer for vibrating tables



April 19, 1955 R. SPARKS 2,706,550

TURBULENCE-MODIFYING STIRRER FOR VIBRATING TABLES Filed April 25, 1952. 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig! Smacntor Ralph Sparks G ttorneg R. SPARKS 2,706,560- TURBULENCE-MODIFYING STIRRER FOR VIBRATING TABLES April 19, 1955 4 She ets-Sheet 2 Filed April 25, 1952 Fig. 3

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Snvcntof RA L PH SPA R KS Gttomeg United States Patent TURBULENCE-MODIF YIN G STIRRER FOR VIBRATING TABLES Ralph Sparks, Pecos, Tex.

Application April 25, 1952, Serial No. 284,344

3 Claims. (Cl. 209-479) As a development from and an extension of the disclosures of my application for Letters Patent of the United States filed May 3, 1951, Serial No. 224,308, now Patent No. 2,661,843, this invention relates to the art and practice of ore classification and mineral separation by means of jigs, vibrating tables, and analogous agencies and has as an object to provide operatively supplemental means in association with such jigs and tables to advantageously modify the efiect thereof on the material treated thereby.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel and improved means for enhancing the agitative efiect of jigs and vibrating tables on the material treated thereby, whereby to augment repetitious separation and dispersion of the material particles.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel and improved means for agitatively disrupting the surges of material under translation by and along jigs and vibrating tables.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel and improved means for stirring material under translation by and along jigs and vibrating tables, whereby to modify and control the material turbulence characteristic of such treatment.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel and improved means cooperable with and as an attachment to the beds of jigs and vibrating tables for the supplemental agitation of material elevated above the bed as an incident of bed vibration.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of elements as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a typical embodiment and installation of the improvement as associated with a vibrating table ready for practical use. Figure 2 is a cross section taken substantially on the indicated line 22 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a fragmentary, detail section, on a relatively-enlarged scale, taken substantially on the indicated line 33 of Figure 1, alternative positions of movable elements of the illustrated organization being indicated by broken lines. Figure 4 is a diagrammatic, side-elevational view of the operative associations primary to the invention as variously constituted, portions of the view being broken away to conserve space. Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the upper elements shown in Figure 4 taken substantially from the position of the line 55 indicated in the latter view. Figure 6 is a fragmentary, detail section, on a relatively-enlarged scale and with broken line showing of alternative element positions, taken substantially on the indicated line 66 of Figure 4. Figure 7 is a cross section similar to Figure 2 illustrating an alternative organization of means within the contemplation of the invention. Figure 8 is a longitudinal section, on a relatively reduced scale, taken substantially on the indicated line 88 of Figure 7. Figure 9 is a fragmentary, detail view, partially in section and on a relatively-enlarged scale, of a stirring element arrangement within the contemplation of the invention.

Classification and concentration of naturally granular and comminuted ores over and by means of vibrating beds of jigs and tables is an ancient and well-established practice. Such vibratory treatment of the ore material is customarily applied to toss and agitate a thin bed or layer of the ore for such dissociation and dispersion of the ore particles as will loosen and free the particles of greater density for segregation apart from those of lesser density, usually in and as a lower ore bed lamination, and to induce a translation of the ore material along or across the vibrating agency in a maintained state of agitation. Vibrating-table motions of diverse particularity ranging from the simple to the highly complex have been devised and applied with considerable success to the agitation and simultaneous translation of ore material in the manner and for the purposes above set forth, but it has been determined that utilization of the table or bed vibrations to induce translation as well as agitation of the ore material thereon is generative of a wave-like or surging turbulence of the material characterized by a tendency of material masses to move without that separation and dispersion of particles which accommodates eflicient segregation thereof in accordance with their relative densities, hence the instant invention is directed to the provision of means operable in association with the vibrating beds of jigs and tables of various types and constructions to stir and agitate the ore material under treatment on and by the associated bed as such material is tossed and translated relative thereto and to thereby modify and disrupt the turbulence of massed particles, or the mass surging, of the material in a manner and to a degree effective to adequately free the particles of greater density for the desired separation and segregation thereof apart from the particles of lesser density.

Essentially, the improvement consists of a plate or deck associated in spaced, parallel relation with and to overlie the vibrating bed of the jig or table selected for ore treatment, stirring blades or fingers fixedly depending from such plate or deck toward and terminating in slightly spaced relation abovethe associated bed surface, a mounting for the plate or deck accommodative of plate or deck vibration relative to the associated bed in a direction transverse to the translation-inducing vibration of the bed, and means for so transversely vibrating the plate or deck during vibration of the bed.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a vibrating table of thetype shown and described in my earlier application for patent, above noted, is represented as a flat bed 10 defined between marginally-upstanding longitudinal flanges 11 and mounted by means of laterallyoutstanding plates 12 to slide up and down on generallyverti'cal struts 13 carried by a frame 14 under the restraining influence of springs 15 about the struts 13 and in reaction to the impulses of pulsators 16 mounted on the frame and acting against the plates 12. The frame 14 is hinged, as at 17, to a fixed support to permit variation of the frame attitude through a limited vertical arc and consequent selective adjustment of the bed 10 length relative to the horizontal and said bed is further arranged, conveniently by means of pivotally-associated struts 18, for selective longitudinal extension or retraction of the frame upper members relative to the corresponding lower members, thus to vary the angle of pulsator stroke relative to the bed 10 without disturbing the adjusted attitude or inclination of the latter, all of which is fully elaborated in my earlier application and is but representative of various vibrating bed and table constructions operable to effect classification and concentration of ore materials simultanously agitated thereupon and translated therealong and to which the improvements of the instant invention are applicable.

Since the inadequacy of ore material agitation and ore particle separation characteristic of vibrating jigs and tabies as above discussed derives from a component of the vibrating force which acts longitudinally of the orebearing bed, correction of such inadequacy may be accomplished by stirring and agitating the ore bed under vibratory agitation and translation in a direction transverse to that of its translation by means operable to supplement and to in no way modify the action of the vibratory agent, thus to disrupt the massedparticle surges of the ore material while the latter reacts in the customary manner to the primary vibrations whereto it is subject.

Typical of means effective to transversely stir and break up the surges of ore material moving longitudinally of a vibrating bed or table, the simple arrangement represented by Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings is one practical adaptation of the principles of the present invention t and for use with the adjustably-mounted bed comprised in the organization disclosed in my earlier applrcation, as herein shown and above described. In the illustrated embodiment of the improvement, a deck or canopy in the form of a flat, rigid plate 19 is disposed in spaced, parallel relation with, above, and to substantially cover the area of the bed 10 in such mounted association with the latter as will accommodate synchronous, simultaneous vibration of the bed and plate elements and at the same time permit play of the plate 19 laterally of the associated bed. Obviously, various known structural relationships may be availed of to interassociate the plate 19 and bed 10 as and for the functional coaction above set forth, a simple and practical arrangement for such purpose being illustrated as consisting of L-shaped brackets 20 spaced apart along and fixedly upstanding from the long margins, or longitudinal flanges 11, of the said bed, conveniently at the points of plate 12 connection therewith, in a horizontal, inwardly-directed disposition of the bracket free legs spacedly above and to overhang the bed flanges 11 and flexible links, such as thin plates 21 of leaf spring type, connecting between inner ends of said bracket free legs and margins of the plate 19 therebelow to suspend said plate 19 in spaced parallelism with and above the bed 10. Mounted as shown and described by means of links 21 free to yield in a direction transverse of the bed 10 and not longitudinally of the latter, the plate 19 moves with the bed under the influence of the pulsators 16 and is susceptible of reciprocation or vibration laterally of the bed by appropriate means or instrumentalities. While it is mechanically feasible to apply longitudinal vibration or oscillation of the bed 10 and plate 19 to effect synchronous vibration of said plate laterally of the bed, it is practical and perhaps more expedient to provide for independent oscillation of the plate relative to the bed, for which purposes an electric motor 22 fixed to the midlength of one of the bed flanges 11 is equipped with an eccentric pin or crank 23 pivotally connected by means of a link 24 with a lug 25 fixedly upstanding from the plate 19, so that, when the motor 22 is energized, rotation of the motor shaft is reflected as reciprocation of the plate 19 laterally of and above the bed 10 while said plate and its reciprocatory drive vibrate with the bed.

The plate 19 is spaced upwardly from the bed 10 sufficiently to clear the ore material as agitated and tossed by the bed during its vibration, thus to obviate any interference by said plate with the agitating and translating action of the bed, and reciprocation of said plate 19 laterally of the bed is applied with desired effect to and upon the material under treatment through the agency of stirring elements fixedly carried by and depending in spaced relation from said plate. As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 6 and in the left-hand sections of Figures 4 and 5, the stirring elements may be straight, cylindrical fingers 26 fixedly projecting perpendicularly from the under face of the plate 19 in any appropriate spacing and desired pattern to terminate in free ends slightly spaced above the adjacent bed 10 surface, the spacing of said fingers transversely of the bed 10 expediently being so correlated with the amplitude of plate 19 reciprocation as to provide raking action of the fingers through and entirely across the width of the ore material charge during each cycle of plate reciprocation. Alternative to the straight fingers 26, and as shown in the center sections of Figures 4 and 5, the stirring elements may be constituted as hooked prongs 27 whereof the free ends are curved, preferably similarly, in any desired direction and to any appropriate degree in maintained slightly-spaced, or clearing, relation above the adjacent bed surface. Typical of yet further variations in the form and arrangement of the stirring elements employable within the contemplation of the invention, the right-hand sections of Figures 4 and 5 disclose the adaptation to such use of flat, thin blades 28 edge-fixed to and projecting perpendicularly from the plate 19 under surface in an edge-spaced, zigzag pattern characterized by transverse rows of spacedly-parallel blades, the free lower edge margins of said blades being upwardly spaced from and to clear the adjacent bed surface, as in the case of the fingers 26 and prongs 27.

As should be readily apparent, reciprocation or oscillation of the plate 19 laterally of the bed 10 by means of the motor 22 as said bed is vibrated to agitate and translate a charge of ore material thereover operates to rake the stirring elements carried by said plate transversely of the bed and laterally through the charge as the latter reacts to the bed vibration in the normal and expected manner, thus disrupting and breaking apart any surges of massed material particles and stimulating a particle dispersion enhancive of the density classification and separation sought. Since the heavier material particles collect in and as a lamination or layer directly against the bed 10 upper surface and it is a clear disadvantage to dislodge and redistribute the so-segregated particles, the stirring elements carried by the plate 19, whatever may be their form and arrangement, are so limited in length as to at all time clear a space above the bed 10 wherein concentration of the heavier material particles out of the influence of the stirring elements may be had.

Alternative to the mounting of the deck 19 for vibration with, as well as laterally of, the table 10 as hereinabove discussed, the said deck may be supported independently of said table for vibration in but the one direction laterally thereof, as represented by Figures 7 and 8. Typical of such alternative deck mounting as applied to the table and frame organization shown in the preceding views and hereinabove described, spacedly-parallel truss or bridge members 29 are fixed at their ends to upper members of the frame 14 to span laterally across said frame above the table 10, and like hangers 30 hingedly depend from mid-points of the said members 29 in fixed engagement of their preferably forked lower ends with the deck 19, thus to suspend said deck for vibration laterally of the frame 14 and table 10 above, and in suitably-spaced relation with, the latter, thus to dispose the stirring elements, or fingers 26, depending from said deck for raking and agitating engagement with and through the charge of material under vibration upon the table 10 in the manner and to accomplish the purposes hereinabove set forth. To actuate the deck in its mounting independent of the table 10, a motor 31, or equivalent power supply, is fixedly supported by and from the frame 14, as by means of a bracket 32, and drives a crank or eccentric 33 connected by means of a link 34 with the midlength of a strut 35 interconnecting like points of the hangers 30 in parallel with the hinge axis common thereto, so that, as the motor 31 operates, the element 33 acts through the link 34 to vibrate or oscillate the deck 19 laterally of the table 10 in an obvious manner.

Further exemplifying stirring elements suitable for association and operation with the deck 19 to accomplish the purposes of the invention, Figure 9 represents a portion of said deck as furnished with fixedly and perpendicularly related tines 36 extending therefrom in spaced, parallel relation and each formed with a longitudinally-spaced series of like barbs or prongs 37 outstanding laterally from its opposite sides to facilitate and enhance the agitating and stirring action of the tine when vibrating with the deck 19 through the material charge under agitation and translation on the table 10.

Since changes, variations, and modifications in the form, construction, and arrangement of the elements shown and described may be had without departing from the spirit of my invention, I wish to be understood as being limited solely by the scope of the appended claims, rather than by any details of the illustrative showing and foregoing description.

I claim as my invention:

1. Ore-treating apparatus comprising, in combination, a table power-vibratable up and down for the agitation thereon and simultaneous translation longitudinally thereover of a comminuted ore charge, a deck overlying and spacedly paralleling said table, a mounting interconnecting said deck and table for simultaneous up and down vibration and for concomitant oscillation of the deck transversely of the table and laterally across the path of ore charge translation along the table, means for independently oscillating said deck transversely of and while it is vibrating with the table, and stirring elements spaced apart on and depending from the deck under surface in end-clearing relation with the table.

2. In ore-treating apparatus, the combination with a table power-vibratable up and down for the agitation thereon and simultaneous translation longitudinally thereover of a comminuted ore charge of a deck overlying and spacedly paralleling said table, a mounting interconnecting said deck and table for simultaneous up and down vibration and for concomitant oscillation of the deck transversely of the table and laterally across the path of ore charge translation along the table, means for independently oscillating said deck transversely of vibrating with the table, and stirring elements spaced apart on and depending from the deck under surface in end-clearing relation with the table.

3. In ore-treating apparatus having a table powervibratable up and down for the agitation thereon and simultaneous translation longitudinally thereover of a comminuted ore charge, means for stirring and for modifying the characteristic turbulence of the ore charge agitated by such table, said means comprising a deck overlying and spacedly paralleling said table, a mounting interconnecting said deck and table for simultaneous up and down vibration and for concomitant oscillation of the deck transversely of the table and laterally across and while it is the path of ore charge translation along the table, stirring elements spaced apart on and depending from the deck under surface in end-clearing relation with the and means for independently transversely oscillating said deck while it is vibrating with the table.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Bagley Apr. 21, 1891 Moore Oct. 2, 1900 Richardson Sept. 15, 1914 Benjamin Aug. 5, 1919 

